1911 Frame & Grip sizes

silverfoxdj

silverfoxdj

BANNED
BANNED
BANNED
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
28   0   0
Location
West Quebec
I have been looking at a few 1911 pistols for a possible purchase and there seems to be few dimension details on the manufacturers sites.

I tried a KIMBER 1911 TLE Stainless this week and found the grip length slightly short for my hand..

Question: Do most of the Government models listed by manufacturers follow a standard grip length or are they all over the place ?

It's very hard to find any 1911's in this area of the country to try.

My CZ Shadow seems perfect for me in this department..

Any one have a CZ and standard 1911's to compare? thoughts / feedback, thanks in advance..
 
A government model should pretty much be a government model. If one's the wrong size they should all be extremely close.

About the only differences are undercutting of trigger guards, which should lengthen the effective front strap dimension, and magwells, which should lengthen the rear.

But other than that, no, they're all close enough to the same spec that you shouldn't feel a difference.
 
if the cz is perfect , then the 1911 [ gi/gov ] is a bit small / narrower , but will fit you very nicely , & there're lots of inexpensive grips that can tune it to your hand .
 
The standard Kimber TLE is a full size 1911. The barrel is shorter on the Compact and Pro Carry TLE's but the grip is still a full size 1911.
 
Last edited:
The government is 5" standard, the commander is 4.25" but there are others such as 4.75" up to 6". Fullsize, government, commander and their clones grip screw hole spacing is 3 1/16". Compact, officers,and their clones grip screw spacing is 2 11/16. It's possible that some clones may deviate from this standard. I love my 1911's. This is my favorite.

DSCF0257_zps8cfdf194.jpg
 
Like this one..
KIMBERTLE_zpsd686b8c5.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]

I find the front / bottom tang of the mag pinches at times when inserting it, not sure if it's as long as a Government model..
 
misanthropist said:
A government model should pretty much be a government model. If one's the wrong size they should all be extremely close.

About the only differences are undercutting of trigger guards, which should lengthen the effective front strap dimension, and magwells, which should lengthen the rear.

But other than that, no, they're all close enough to the same spec that you shouldn't feel a difference.
Click to expand...

I agree.
 
kschneider said:
The government is 5" standard, the commander is 4.25" but there are others such as 4.75" up to 6". Fullsize, government, commander and their clones grip screw hole spacing is 3 1/16". Compact, officers,and their clones grip screw spacing is 2 11/16. It's possible that some clones may deviate from this standard. I love my 1911's. This is my favorite.

DSCF0257_zps8cfdf194.jpg
Click to expand...

Very nice!
 
misanthropist said:
A government model should pretty much be a government model. If one's the wrong size they should all be extremely close.

About the only differences are undercutting of trigger guards, which should lengthen the effective front strap dimension, and magwells, which should lengthen the rear.

But other than that, no, they're all close enough to the same spec that you shouldn't feel a difference.
Click to expand...

You're probably right ..wish the Manufacture sites would have more details though..
 
The government length is the government length. That's what makes the 1911 design so universal.

I was also wondering what sort of hands you have until I saw the picture of the Kimber you posted that has the little mag base tongue sticking out. My first thought was that you're not holding the gun correctly but then I remembered getting the bottom of my own pinky pinched by that same style of magazine if I was not careful.

So my suggestion is to opt for mags that have removable plastic or metal bases. They tend to fit better with less risk of pinching. As a bonus such mags tend to be more durable. I've seen a few of the welded steel bottom mags that busted that part out after being dropped on hard ground during matches. The removable style bases don't seem to suffer that way.

And as a final aid running a stone or very fine file over the corners down there to de-horn the opening can also help. And of course putting a magwell on the gun fixes the issue for certain.
 
yea that's a government frame as everyone has said. throw on a set of techwell grips and full wrap magwell with an appropriate set of mags. that should insulate your hand from the mag

I do also think you could hold the gun higher, even my friends with really big hands dont get pinched by a 1911 with a good high grip
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom